Record crowd for ANZAC dawn service in Albany

With Albany set to play a significant role in the looming ANZAC Centenary commemorations later this year, a large number of visitors have already decided Albany is the quintessential place for reflection.

Sergeant J.J. Fulleylove, RAAF serviceman, came to Albany to reflect this ANZAC Day because this was the place where the first convoy of ANZACs set off from Australia nearly 100 years ago.

He says the emotion that a dawn view of King George Sound evokes is very real.

"You feel for those guys, going off into the unknown, that's the scariest part for me.

"In today's world of media we know everything that is going on, those guys knew nothing.

"Full of enthusiasm and courage but going to the unknown is scary I think.

"We're cowards compared with those guys...look at the courage, to go over the edge was sensational and we can't forget that."

President of the Albany Sub-Branch of the RSL, Peter Aspinall says the record crowd number was a reflection of the growing popularity of ANZAC Day and the work that has been done on Mt Clarence to provide more room for reflection.

"I thought it was a brilliant service, as you know the area around the Desert Mounted Corp Memorial has been expanded significantly.

"In the past we've had about 1800 people up here each year, this year somebody has estimated about 3,500."

"The emotion that came from that crowd of 3,500 was quite overpowering."

Mr Aspinall says while the growth of the service is great for the legacy of those who served for country, we need to be careful to keep the 'creeping commercialisation' of ANZAC Day at bay.

"It's not about somebody being able to take advantage commercially.

"It really is for those people who are wanting to think of their forebears, their relatives...who made that ultimate sacrifice."